Game combining chance and judgment

ABSTRACT

A game which combines elements of chance and exercise of judgment. A hollow transparent container which houses a chanceindicating structure is movable from a starting position to an end position where the chance-indicating structure will indicate, by chance, one of a plurality of different possible scores. A score-storing structure has a plurality of movable elements carrying score-indicating indicia and capable of being moved from rest positions to locations displaced from the latter rest positions, respectively. Thus, the operator after moving the container to its end positions so as to receive a score from the chance-indicating structure, can select from among the elements which carry the score-indicating indicia certain ones of these elements to be displaced from their rest positions to the locations displaced from the latter positions, so that by selection of the latter elements the element of judgment is introduced into the game. Those score-indicating elements which remain in their rest positions when it is no longer possible to select at the score-indicating elements a score matching that provided by the chance-indicating structure will indicate the final score of a given player.

United States Patent 1 Campbell et al.

[ 1 3,744,800 1 July 10, 1973 GAME COMBINING CHANCE AND JUDGMENT [75] inventors: Laurie J. Campbell; Raymond J.

Lohr; Charles M. Kienholz, all of Erie, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Louis Marx & Co., Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 210,818

Primary Examingr Delbert B. Lowe Attorney- Alex Friedman, Harold 1. Kaplan et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A game which combines elements of chance and exercise of judgment. A hollow transparent container which houses a chance-indicating structure is movable from a starting position to an end position where the chanceindicating structure will indicate, by chance, one of a plurality of different possible scores. A score-storing structure has a plurality of movable elements carrying score-indicating indicia and capable of being moved from rest positions to locations displaced from the latter rest positions, respectively. Thus, the operator after moving the container to its end positions so as to receive a score from the chance-indicating structure, can select from among the elements which carry the scoreindicating indicia certain ones of these elements to be displaced from their rest positions to the locations displaced from the latter positions, so that by selection of the latter elements the element of judgment is introduced into the game. Those score-indicating elements which remain in their rest positions when it is no longer possible to select at the score-indicating elements a score matching that provided by the chance-indicating structure will indicate the final score of a given player.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUM 1 mm SHEEI Inf 2 FIG. 2

INVENTORS LAURIE J. CAMPBELL BY RAYMOND J. LOHR CHARLES M. KIENHOLZ A TTORNE I I GAME COMBINING CHANCE AND JUDGMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to games.

In particular, the present invention relates to a game which combines elements of chance and exercise of judgment.

As is well known, there are games which operate purely by chance. For example, certain chance devices such as spinners, dice, and the like, may be operated by a player to derive purely by chance a given score which is then registered on a score-keeping device, for example, so that in this way a certain score is totalled. However, games of this latter type become boring because they rely solely on chance and do not call for any exercise of judgement on the part of the operator.

On the other hand, there are known games which have as a large element thereof the factor of exercising judgement. For example, many card games require the players to exercise a high degree of judgment. How ever, in these cases complex rules are involved and complex systems must be memorized by the players.

As far as is known, there has not been provided up to the present time a relatively simple game of chance which without requiring complex rules or complex structures enables a player to exercise in a simple way a certain amount of judgment which when added to the element of chance will determine a final score.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple game which includes both the element of chance and the exercise of judgment.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game of this type which does not require complex rules to be memorized.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a game of the above type which can be played by any number of players.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a game of this type with a structure which is quite simple and inexpensive.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a game of this type which does not have any components which can become lost.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a game of the above type which affords a high degree of entetainment by requiring a considerable amount of action and movement on the part of the players.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide for a game of the above general type a scoring system which is manipulated by the players in such a way that it is the scoring operations themselves which introduce the element of judgment into the game.

According to the invention the game includes a movable container means which has a hollow transparent portion and which is movable from a given starting position to a given end position, this container means carrying in its hollow transparent portion a chance means visible in the hollow container portion and indicating, by chance, one of a plurality of different possible scores when the container means is moved by the operator from its starting to its end position. A scoring means is available for storing the score which is indicated by the chance means, and this scoring means includes a plurality of score-indicating elements which are individually movable from rest positions to locations respectively displaced from these rest positions. The operator will select from among the score-indicating elements BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one possible embodiment of a game according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. I a game 10 according to the present invention. This game includes a container means 12 which has a hollow transparent portion 14 and a manually-engageable tab 16 which carries the hollow container portion 14. The container means 12 is supported by a containersupport means 18 for movement from a starting position to an end position, as indicated by the doubleheaded arrow 20 in FIG. 1.

As is shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the support means 18 includes a pair of vertical wall portions 22 and 24 respectively formed with aligned openings which receive pivot extensions 26 and 28 of the tab 16, so that in this way the support means 18 supports the container means 12 for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis.

The tab 16 has a manually-engageable extension 30 which the player grasps in order to swing the container means 12. The left portion of FIG. 1 shows, in phantom lines, the container means 12 after it has reached its end position. It will be noted that in this end position the container means is located substantially at the elevation of the axis about which the container means is supported for swinging movement by the support means 18. The pair of wall portions 22 and 24 form part of a plastic structure which can be molded in one piece and which in general surrounds a hollow space which is open at the top and in which the container means 12 can be accommodated when it is located at the elevation of the turning axis of the container means. This elongated hollow space is defined not only between the front and rear wall portions 22 and 24 but also by a pair of end portions 32 and 34. These end portions are in the form of hollow structures and are molded in one piece with the hollow front and rear wall portions of the unitary molded structure 36. The front wall part of this structure, which includes the vertical wall portion 22, has on opposite sides of the pivot extension 26 a pair of depressions 38 capable of accommodating the extension 30 when the container means 12 is situated on either side of the horizontal swing axis thereof. The distance between the end wall portions 32 and 34 is sufficiently great to enable the container means to be located between these wall portions at either position on opposite sides of the swing axis of the container means. The pair of wall portions 22 and 24 are interconnected by a horizontal wall portion 40 which is connected to all of the walls 22, 24, 32, and 34, and this wall 40 carries a shock-absorbing resilient pad 42 made of foam rubber, for example. Thus, this pad is situated in the path of movement of the container means to interrupt the movement thereof and determine the location of the container means at either side of the swing axis thereof.

The hollow portion 14 of the container means 12 is made of a pair of container halves consisting of any suitable transparent plastic material and held together by rivets 44. The lower rivets 44 connect lower portions of the hollow container halves with a free end portion of the swingable tab 16.

The hollow interior of the container portion 14 houses a chance means for indicating a given score by chance. This chance means, includes, in the illustrated example, at least one die 46. However, in the illustrated example there are a pair of dice 46.

It is preferred to play the game as thus far described by utilizing one end position for the container means as the starting position before the container means is moved to its other end position. Thus, assuming that the container means 12 is in the phantom line position indicated in FIG. 1, then the operator will swing the container means over the opposite end position, next to the end wall 34, in order to cause the dice 46 to be moved in such a way as to indicate one of a plurality of different possible scores when the container means reaches its end position. During the next turn the container means 12 is swung in the opposite direction so as to return to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 1, and in this way the chance means 46 will indicate different possible scores at each swing of the container means 12.

As thus far described, these scores which are achieved in the above manner are determined by chance. In accordance with the present invention, judgment is exercised by the players by way of the scoring means used to store the scores indicated by the chance means 46. For this purpose the game includes a plurality of score-indicating tabs 50. In the illustrated example there are nine tabs 50, and, except for the fifth tab, all of these tabs 50 are shown in FIG. 1 in their rest positions. These tabs carry digits 1-9 which form scoreindicating indicia visible to the operator when the tabs 50 are in their rest positions. These tabs are capable of being displaced by the operator from their rest positions to locations displaced from their rest positions, and the fifth of the series of tabs 50 is shown in FIG. I displaced away from its rest position.

A second support means 52 is provided to support the several score-indicating tabs 50 for movement from their rest positions to locations displaced from their rest positions, and this second support means 52 forms a unitary structure with the support means 18. For this purpose the pair of end walls 32 and 34 have rearwardly extending portions which fixedly carry an elongated pivot rod 54 (FIGS. 2 and 4), so that through this rod 54 a common swing axis is provided for all of the score-indicating elements 50. These elements are each provided with a pair of ears 56 formed with aligned openings through which the pivot rod 54 extends. The several tabs 50 are formed with rear notches 58 which receive vertical walls 60, respectively, of T-shaped stop components 62 (FIG. 2), so that the front end wall portions of the parts 62 will engage the rear edges of the tabs to maintain them at the inclination shown for the tab 50 which extends to the upper right at the right portion of FIG. 2. The several tabs 50 carry at their lower surfaces which are not visible in the rest positions of the tabs letters which respectively correspond to the digits, so that the one tab 50 which is shown displaced from its rest position, this being the fifth tab which carries the numeral 5, has visible the letter E, as is apparent from FIG. 1. In the same way the remaining tabs carry corresponding letters so that when the tabs are displaced by each player from a rest position thereof the digits will no longer be visible and instead the letters will be visible.

The free front ends of the several tabs 50, when they are in their rest positions, are supported by a longitudinally extending lip 64 which is integral with and projects upwardly from a rearwardly directed elongated portion of the vertical wall portion 24.

Beneath the several tabs the structure 36 has a hori zontal wall portion 66 which is united with a rear longitudinal wall portion 68 connected at its ends to the outer parts of the end wall portions 32 and 34, and the periphery of the outer vertical wall portions is joined to a horizontal wall 70, so that in this way the structure is completed.

The above-described game is played in the following manner. Each player has a turn at flipping the container means 12 from a starting position located adjacent one of the end walls 32 and 34 to an end position located adjacent the other of the end walls, and at the next turn the container means will be swung back to its original position. During each of these swinging movements through approximately the chance means 46 will indicate one of a plurality of different possible scores. Assuming, for example, that the score which has been indicated after one turn is the number 8 then the player will have the possibility of selecting from among the different tabs 50 certain ones of the latter in order to introduce this score and store this score, and it is at this part of the game that judgement is exercised. Thus, the operator has the choice of introducing and storing the score 8 by utilizing only that tab which carries the digit 8, or by selecting a number of different tabs which can total up to the number 8, such as, for example, the tabs carrying the digits 6 and 2, the tabs carrying the digits 7 and l, or even three tabs such as the tabs which carry the digits 2, 5, and 1. As soon as these tabs are displaced away from their rest positions, the digits are no longer visible, so that a certain number of digits remain visible at those tabs which have not been displaced away from their rest positions. Each player continues to take turns until it is no longer possible to match the score indicated by the chance means 46 with digits at the tabs 50 which still remain in their rest positions. At this time those tabs 50 which remain in their rest positions will carry digits which will be totalled, for example, so as to indicate the final score of a given player. Any number of players can successively take turns in this way, and the player with the lowest final score, corresponding to those tabs 50 which have not been turned away from their rest positions, will generally be considered the winner. As a general rule a player will achieve a lower, and thus more desirable, score by turning up the smallest possible number of tabs 50 with the largest digits while leaving those tabs with the smallest digits, but of course this is only a general rule which does not always apply, so that a considerable amount of judgement must be exercised in the manner in which the score is introduced from the chance means 46 in order to achieve the lowest possible score.

it is therefore apparent from the above description that with a relatively simple structure as shown and described above a game combining both chance and judgement is provided. Moreover, it will be noted that with this simple relatively inexpensive structure all of the components are permanently connected to each other so that nothing can become lost. For example, the dice 46 are permanently located within the hollow container portion 14, so that the dice will not become lost. The several tabs 50 are permanently connected with the unitary supporting structure formed by the pair of support means 18 and 52, by way of the rod 54. The tab 16 is permanently connected at its pivot portions 26 and 28 with the walls 22 and 24. Moreover, it will be noted that this relatively inexpensive structure can be readily molded from any suitable plastic and occupies a relatively small amount of space so that it can easily be stored in a small space while at the same time be readily available to be positioned on a relatively small table, for example, about which a relatively large number of players can position themselves so as to take turns in playing the game of the invention as pointed out above.

It is therefore apparent that the relatively simple inexpensive game of the invention is extremely convenient to use and occupies a small space and does not have elements which can easily become lost. In addition it is to be noted that as each player takes his turn a considerable amount of action is involved. This action results not only from the manipulation of the container means 12 but also from the judgement which is exercised by each player as he chooses which of the tabs 50 to turn up, so that in this way a considerable interest is generated in all of the players in watching the game as it progresses, so that with the game of the invention it is possible to achieve a high degree of entertainment lasting over a considerable period of time while several players successively take their turns, with each of the players attempting to maintain his score as low as possible. By providing at the lower surfaces of the several tabs 50 letters rather than numbers there is no possible confusion between the numbers which remain in the rest positions and the numbers on the tabs which have been turned away from their rest positions.

FIG. 3 shows the container means in phantom lines at a position corresponding to the phantom line position of FIG. 1.

What is claimed is:

l. A game comprising movable container means having a hollow transparent portion, container-support means supporting said movable container means for movement from a starting position to an end position, chance means situated in the hollow transparent portion of said container means for visibly indicating through said hollow transparent portion of said container means one of a number of different possible scores, determined by chance, upon movement of said container means from said starting to said end position, a plurality of score indicating elements respectively carrying score-indicating indicia, and second means that after said container means has been moved from said starting to said end position to provide a given scoreby'way of said chance means, the latter score can be scored by selecting score-indicating elements which correspond to said score and displacing the latter elements from said rest positions thereof to said locations thereof displaced from the latter rest positions, said second support means supporting said score-indicating elements for swinging movement about a common axis and said container-support means and said second support means forming part of a unitary structure with said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement about an axis which is perpendicular to said common axis, said scoreindicating elements being arranged in a row and said axis of swinging of said container means extending substantially centrally between the ends of said row so that in one end position said container means extends from its axis of swinging in one direction along approximately one half of the row of score-indicating elements while in the other end position it extends in an opposite direction from said axis of swinging along said row of score-indicating elements, and both of said axes being located at substantially the same elevation.

2. A game comprising movable container means having a hollow transparent portion, container'support means supporting said movable container means for movement from a starting position to an end position, chance means situated in the hollow transparent portion of said container means for visibly indicating through said hollow transparent portion of said container means one of a number of different possible scores, determined by chance, upon movement of said container means from said starting to said end position, a plurality of score indicating elements respectively carrying score-indicating indicia, and second means supporting said elements for movement from rest positions to locations displaced from said rest positions, so that after said container means has been moved from said starting to said end position to provide a given score by way of said chance means the latter score can be scored by selecting score-indicating elements which correspond to said score and displacing the latter elements fromsaid rest positions thereof to said locations thereof displaced from the latter rest positions, said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement from said starting position to said end position, said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement about a predetermined axis which is generally horizontal from said starting position which is located on one side of said axis substantially at the elevation of the latter axis to said end position which is located on the opposite side of said axis also substantially at the elevation of the latter axis, so that the end position of said container means after one of the movements thereof may form the starting position for said container means during the next movement thereof, said container means including a manually-engageable tab supported by said container-support means for swinging movement about said axis and a hollow transparent container carried by said tab at a free end portion of the latter and housing said chance means.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said chance means includes at least one die.

4. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said chance means includes a pair of dice.

5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein a resilient,shock absorbing pad means is located in the path of movement of said hollow transparent portion of said container means to determine the end and starting positions thereof.

6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said chance means includes at least one die.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said score-indicating elements include tabs carrying digits.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said second support means supports said tabs for swinging movement individually from said rest positions where said digits thereof are respectively visible to said locations where said digits are no longer visible, so that those tabs which are not moved from said rest positions thereof still maintain the digits carried thereby in a visible position for indicating a final score.

9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein said tabs when moved to said locations render visible to the operator surfaces of said tabs which are not visible when said tabs are in their rest positions.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said surfaces of said tabs which become visible when said tabs are displaced to said locations carry letters corresponding to said digits.

11. A game comprising movable container means having a hollow transparent portion, container-support means supporting said movable container means for movement from a starting position to an end position, chance means situated in the hollow transparent portion of said container means for visibly indicating through said hollow transparent portion of said container means one of a number of different possible scores, determined by chance, upon movement of said container means from said starting to said end position, a plurality of score indicating elements respectively carrying score-indicating indicia, and second means supporting said elements for movement from rest positions to. locations displaced from said rest positions, so

that after said container means has'been moved from said starting to said end position to provide a given score by way of said chance means, the latter score can be scored by selecting score-indicating elements which correspond to said score and displacing the latter elements from said rest positions thereof to said locations thereof displaced from the latter rest positions, said score-indicating elements including tabs carrying digits, said second support means supporting said tabs for swinging movement individually from said rest posi tions where said digits thereof are respectively visible to said locations where said digits are no longer visible, so that those tabs which are not moved from said rest positions thereof still maintain the digits carried thereby in a visible position for indicating a final score, said second support means supporting all of said tabs for swinging movement about a common axis, said container-support means and said second support means forming part of a unitary structure with said containersupport means supporting said container means for swinging movement about an axis which is perpendicular to said common axis about whichsaid tabs are turnable, said container-support means including a pair of upstanding wall portions respectively formed with openings, said container means having a manuallyengageable tab having projections situated in the latter openings, and one of said wall portions having an elongated extension supporting said tabs which carry said score-indicating indicia in said rest position with said second support means having an elongated rod extending parallel to said extension and spaced therefrom to support said score-indicating tabs for swinging movement from said extension around said rod to said locations displaced from said rest positions. 

1. A game comprising movable container means having a hollow transparent portion, container-support means supporting said movable container means for movement from a starting position to an end position, chance means situated in the hollow transparent portion of said container means for visibly indicating through said hollow transparent portion of said container means one of a number of different possible scores, determined by chance, upon movement of said container means from said starting to said end position, a plurality of score indicating elements respectively carrying score-indicating indicia, and second means supporting said elements for movement from rest positions to locations displaced from said rest positions, so that after said container means has been moved from said starting to said end position to provide a given score by way of said chance means, the latter score can be scored by selecting score-indicating elements which correspond to said score and displacing the latter elements from said rest positions thereof to said locations thereof displaced from the latter rest positions, said second support means supporting said score-indicating elements for swinging movement about a common axis and said container-support means and said second support means forming part of a unitary structure with said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement about an axis which is perpendicular to said common axis, said score-indicating elements being arranged in a row and said axis of swinging of said container means extending substantially centrally between the ends of said row so that in one end position said contaiNer means extends from its axis of swinging in one direction along approximately one half of the row of score-indicating elements while in the other end position it extends in an opposite direction from said axis of swinging along said row of score-indicating elements, and both of said axes being located at substantially the same elevation.
 2. A game comprising movable container means having a hollow transparent portion, container-support means supporting said movable container means for movement from a starting position to an end position, chance means situated in the hollow transparent portion of said container means for visibly indicating through said hollow transparent portion of said container means one of a number of different possible scores, determined by chance, upon movement of said container means from said starting to said end position, a plurality of score indicating elements respectively carrying score-indicating indicia, and second means supporting said elements for movement from rest positions to locations displaced from said rest positions, so that after said container means has been moved from said starting to said end position to provide a given score by way of said chance means, the latter score can be scored by selecting score-indicating elements which correspond to said score and displacing the latter elements from said rest positions thereof to said locations thereof displaced from the latter rest positions, said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement from said starting position to said end position, said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement about a predetermined axis which is generally horizontal from said starting position which is located on one side of said axis substantially at the elevation of the latter axis to said end position which is located on the opposite side of said axis also substantially at the elevation of the latter axis, so that the end position of said container means after one of the movements thereof may form the starting position for said container means during the next movement thereof, said container means including a manually-engageable tab supported by said container-support means for swinging movement about said axis and a hollow transparent container carried by said tab at a free end portion of the latter and housing said chance means.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said chance means includes at least one die.
 4. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said chance means includes a pair of dice.
 5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein a resilient, shock-absorbing pad means is located in the path of movement of said hollow transparent portion of said container means to determine the end and starting positions thereof.
 6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said chance means includes at least one die.
 7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said score-indicating elements include tabs carrying digits.
 8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said second support means supports said tabs for swinging movement individually from said rest positions where said digits thereof are respectively visible to said locations where said digits are no longer visible, so that those tabs which are not moved from said rest positions thereof still maintain the digits carried thereby in a visible position for indicating a final score.
 9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein said tabs when moved to said locations render visible to the operator surfaces of said tabs which are not visible when said tabs are in their rest positions.
 10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said surfaces of said tabs which become visible when said tabs are displaced to said locations carry letters corresponding to said digits.
 11. A game comprising movable container means having a hollow transparent portion, container-support means supporting said movable container means for movement from a starting position to an end position, chance means situAted in the hollow transparent portion of said container means for visibly indicating through said hollow transparent portion of said container means one of a number of different possible scores, determined by chance, upon movement of said container means from said starting to said end position, a plurality of score indicating elements respectively carrying score-indicating indicia, and second means supporting said elements for movement from rest positions to locations displaced from said rest positions, so that after said container means has been moved from said starting to said end position to provide a given score by way of said chance means, the latter score can be scored by selecting score-indicating elements which correspond to said score and displacing the latter elements from said rest positions thereof to said locations thereof displaced from the latter rest positions, said score-indicating elements including tabs carrying digits, said second support means supporting said tabs for swinging movement individually from said rest positions where said digits thereof are respectively visible to said locations where said digits are no longer visible, so that those tabs which are not moved from said rest positions thereof still maintain the digits carried thereby in a visible position for indicating a final score, said second support means supporting all of said tabs for swinging movement about a common axis, said container-support means and said second support means forming part of a unitary structure with said container-support means supporting said container means for swinging movement about an axis which is perpendicular to said common axis about which said tabs are turnable, said container-support means including a pair of upstanding wall portions respectively formed with openings, said container means having a manually-engageable tab having projections situated in the latter openings, and one of said wall portions having an elongated extension supporting said tabs which carry said score-indicating indicia in said rest position with said second support means having an elongated rod extending parallel to said extension and spaced therefrom to support said score-indicating tabs for swinging movement from said extension around said rod to said locations displaced from said rest positions. 